Toilet bowl assembly



R. F. OBRIEN 3,247,525

TOILET BOWL AS SEMBLY April 26, 1966 ff acua'w April 26, 1966 R. F. OBRIEN TOILET BOWL ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 19, 1961 April 26, 1966 R. F. O'BRIEN TOILET BOWL ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Dec. 19, 1961 4 w kw Ma n WM w M 0 ,M W R? &/ j 3ft L 5 u United States a Patent 3,247,525 TOiLET BOWL ASSENBLY Robert F. Glirien, Monterey Park, Califi, assignor to lliission-West Manufacturing Company, Los Angeles,

Calif., a corporation of Delaware C-riginal application Dec. 19, 1961, er. No. 160,603. Divided and this application Nov. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 418,943

6 Claims. (Cl. 4-79) This application is a division of my pending application filed December 19, 1961, Serial No. 160,603.

This invention relates to a toilet bowl assembly and is particularly directed to the problems relating to toilets for use in portable installations, for example, house trailers, boats, and in portable toilet structures that are installed for temporary use on construction projects and the like.

Most of such installations utilize an individual water tank which must be replenished from time to time and, therefore, a basic requirement is maximum economy in the use of water for the flushing of a toilet bowl. For this purpose the invention provides a normally closed closure for the toilet bowl outlet for normally retaining a body of water in the toilet bowl and further provides an associated normally closed flush valve for replacing the body of water, the flush valve operating with delayed action. A manually operable control means is movable through two stages, the first stage opening the closure to release the water trapped in the toilet bowl and the second stage actuating the flush valve for a flushing operation.

By virtue of this arrangement, the manual means may be operated through both of its stages to empty the toilet bowl with a flushing action and then may be restored to its normal starting position to cause the closure to close the bowl outlet and to cause delayed termination of the flushing action, the delay permitting a fresh body of water to be trapped in the bowl.

When such a toilet bowl assembly is transported under conditions wherein violent motion is likely to occur, for example when a house trailer is transported at relatively high speed over a long distance, the toilet bowl should be emptied of water in advance. This problem is met by operating the manual control through only its first stage to cause the closure of the toilet bowl outlet to open but to do so without initiating operation of the flush valve.

When the normal body of water in the toilet bowl is removed for this purpose, it is highly desirable to take the further step of cleaning the underside of the closure and the discharge passage immediately downstream from the closure. The invention meets this problem by providing a special spray nozzle to direct a cleansing spray of water against the underside of the closure and the adjacent portion of the discharge passage from the toilet bowl. In this regard a feature of the invention is the concept of operatively associating such a spray nozzle with the usual valve that is employed to cut off the water supply to the toilet bowl in preparation for transportation. When the cut off valve closes, the spray nozzle responds automatically to the closing action by carrying out the cleansing operation in the course of the closing action.

The further problem to which the invention is directed is to provide an eflicient and trouble-free delayed-action flushing valve. As will be explained the invention provides a flushing valve of relatively simple structure that may be easily adjusted for varying the delay action, the adjustment being conveniently accessible at the exterior of the toilet bowl assembly.

The features and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, which are to be regarded as merely illustrative:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the presently preferred embodiment of the toilet bowl assembly with portions broken away to show the structure relating to an overflow passage;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section of the pedestal or base structure that supports the toilet bowl, the view showing the valves for controlling the supply of water for flushing the toilet;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken as indicated by the line 33 of FIG. 2 showing the flow passage arrangement for spraying the underside of the flapper valve at the outlet of the toilet bowl;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the angular line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating a modification of the invention which incorporates a sealing diaphragm; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 showing the configuration of the diaphragm.

General arrangement The principal parts of the toilet bowl assembly include: a toilet bowl Iii equipped with the usual seat 12 and a hinged cover 14; a water supply pipe 15; a normally open cut-ofl valve (FIG. 2), generally designated 16, comprising a valve seat 13 and a cooperative valve head 20; a normally closed spray valve (FIG. 2), generally designated 22 for supplying water to a spray nozzle in the form of an upwardly inclined passage 23, the spray valve comprising a valve seat 24 and a cooperating valve head 25; a knurled operating screw 28 that extends to the exterior of the toilet bowl assembly for manual manipulation to operate the two valves 16 and 22 simultaneously; a normally closed delayed-action flush valve (FIG. 2), generally designated 30, for controlling the flushing of the toilet; a plunger 32 normally retracted by a spring 34, the plunger being adapted to open the flush valve 33 to initiate a flushing cycle; ceive the water that is released by the delayed-action flush valve 30; an upright vacuum breaker 36 at the upper end of the riser pipe, a manifold 38 connected to the vacuum breaker 36 to receive flushing water therefrom, the manifold having a plurality of ports 40 for discharging the flushing water into the interior of the toilet bowl; a pivoted closure 42 (FIG. 2), for the outlet 44 of the toilet bowl for normally retaining a body of Water in the toilet bowl, the closure being spring-biased to its normal closed position and being positioned to swing against the plunger 32 as the closure swings to its fully open position thereby to depress the plunger for operating the delayed-action flush valve 33; a foot pedal 45 (FIG. 1), for manually opening the closure 42; an overflow passage 46 (FIGS. 1 and 5), incorporated in the curved wall of the toilet bowl It) to receive overflow from an overflow port 48 in the toilet bowl and to bypass the closure 42 for delivering the overflow to the drainage passage 50 below the closure, the

Operation The manner in which the invention operates for its purpose may be readily appreciated from the summary of the principal parts of the structure and from an inspection of the drawings. Normally the closure 42 closes the toilet bowl outlet. 44 as shown in FIG. 2 to retain a riser'pipe 35 (FIG.- 1), to re-" a small quantity of water in the toilet bowl and normally the flushing valve 3i) is closed. The cut off valve 16 is, of course, normally open, but the spray valve 22 is normally closed.

' To flush the toilet, the pedal 45 is depressed to swing the closure 42; downward clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2. During the initial movement of the pedal 45, the closure 42 swings open sufiiciently to release the water that is trapped in the toilet bowl. During the latter part of the downward movement of the pedal 45 the closure 42 swings against the plunger 32 and thereby causes the plunger to open the flushing valve 39. When the operator releases the foot pedal 45, the closure 42 is returned by spring action, but the flushing valve 30 continues to operate with a delayed action, the delay being sufficient for a new body of water to build up in the toilet bowl after the closure closes.

During the period of time in which the flushing valve 39 is open, a small portion of the water supply bleeds out of the manifold 38 through the bleeder port 52 into the overflow passage 46 to maintain the required quantity of water in the overflow passage trap. In the event that the flushing valve 3% fails to close completely, the water discharged from the manifold 38 through the manifold ports 49 fills the toilet bowl to the level of the overflow port 48 and the excess water overflows through the port 48 into the overflow passage 46.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in the event that a vacuum occurs in the supply pipe 15, the vacuum breaker 36 closes to cut oil the riser pipe 35 from the toilet bowl 33. If for any reason the vacuum breaker fails to close the upper end of the riser pipe 35, the vacuum breaker places the riser pipe 35 in direct communication with the atmosphere to make it impossible for water to be sucked into the vacuum breaker from the toilet bowl manifold 38.

To prepare the toilet bowl assembly for transportation or for a prolonged idle period, the foot pedal 45 is depressed only part way to open the closure 42 for discharge of the water from the toilet bowl without operation of the flushing valve 36. The conveniently accessible knurled operating screw 28 is then manipulated to close the cut-01f valve by drawing the valve head into the valve seat 18. The initial movement of the valve head 29 towards the valve seat 18 causes the normally closed spray valve 22 to open, the valve head of the spray valve retracting from the associated valve seat 24. Thus, during the screw travel that closes the cut-off valve 16, the spray valve 22 is opened to deliver water under pressure to the passage 23 that serves as a nozzle for directing spray upward against the underside of the closure 42, the spray passage having a lip 23a to form the spray pattern. When the cut-oil valve 16 is completely closed the spray action ceases since the cut-off valve is upstream from the spray valve 22.

Structural details The toilet bowl 10, which may be made of the usual vitreous material, is mounted on a pedestal structure 54 and secured in a well known manner by a split ring 55 (FIG. 2), the joint being sealed by an interposed gasket 56. The pedestal structure forms the discharge passage 50 and thelower end of the pedestal structure is formed with the usual floor flange 57 for anchorage to a floor by suitable screws 58. The lower end 69 of the drainage or discharge passage 50 is adapted in the usual manner for connection to a sewer pipe or the like.

The closure 42 is made of rubber-like material with a spherically curved upper surface for normal sealing contact with the valve seat formed by the bowl outlet 44. In the construction shown, the closure 42 is mounted on a rocker arm 62 which, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, is carried by a transverse rocker shaft 63. The rocker shaft 63 is journalled in a pair of bearings 64 that are sealed by O-rings 65, the opposite ends of th rocker shaft being outside of the discharge passage 50 of the pedestal structure. A coil spring 66 under compression against a rocker arm 68 at one end of the rocker shaft 63 continuously urges the closure member 42 towards its closed position. A rocker arm 70 on the other end of the rocker shaft 63 .is connected by a link 72 to a rocker arm 74 on a rocker shaft 75 that carries the previously mentioned foot pedal 45. Thus depression of the foot pedal 45 causes clockwise rotation of the rocker snaft 75 as viewed in PEG. 2 with consequent clockwise rotation of the rocker arm 7% to swing the closure 42 clockwise to open position.

Mounted on the rear side of the pedestal structure 54 is a valve assembly having three body sections comprising an inner body section 76, an intermediate body section 70 and an outer body section 80, the three body sections being interconnected by suitable screws such as indicated at 32 and $4 in FIG. 4. The inner body section 76 carries the spring-loaded plunger 32 and forms a passage 35 which is a continuation of the previously mentioned overflow passage 46 and which empties into the discharge passage 50 through a port 86. A suitable gasket 88 is interposed between the inner body section 76 and the pedestal structure 54 and a second gasket 90 is interposed between the inner body section and the intermediate body section 73.

The intermediate body section 78 provides the valve seat 18 for the cut-01f valve 16 and outlet port 92 for the flushing valve 36. The valve member of the flushing valve 30 for cooperation with the outlet port 92 is a flexible diaphragm 94 having an annular portion 95 for closing the outlet port 92. The diaphragm 94 also forms the valve seat 24 of the spray valve 22 and in addition serves as a gasket between the intermediate body section 78 and the outer body section 36.

The diaphragm 94 has an opening or port 96 centrally of the annular portion 95, which opening or port is opposite the port 92 and is normally closed by a valve ball 98 under the pressure of a coil spring 106. The valve ball 98 is confined by a valve cage 102 having side openings 1&4, the valve cage being suitably spaced from the diaphragm 94 at the closed position of the diaphragm. The valve cage 102 is unitary with a tubular adjustment screw 105 that is screw-threadedly mounted in the outer body section 80 and is sealed by an O-ring 1%, the outer end of the adjustment screw being exposed on the back of the pedestal structure for convenient manipulation.

The previously mentioned knurled operating screw 28 is also screw-threadedly'mounted in the outer body section 8% and is sealed by a suitable O-ring 163. The knurled operating screw 28 is unitary with the valve head 25 of the spray valve 22 and is also unitary with a concentric valve stem that carries the valve head 20 of the cut-off valve 16. The water supply pipe 15 is connected to the lower portion of the outer body section 86 by means of a suitable gland 112 and the lower end of the riser pipe 35 is connected by a second gland 114 to the upper portion of the outer body section.

The diaphragm 94 functions as a movable wall that separates a control chamber 115 from a valve chamber 116, the valve chamber outlet port 92 being normally closed by the annular portion 95 of the diaphragm. Water for flushing the toilet bowl fiows from the sup-ply pipe 15 through an angular passage 117 to the valve head 20 of the cut-off valve 16 and flows through the valve seat 13 and a passage 118 around the valve stem 1.10. From the passage 118 the flow is through a diagonal inlet port 120 to the valve chamber 116.

A suitable bleeder bypass is provided between the valve chamber 116 and the control chamber 115 to cause equalization of the fluid pressure in the two chamhers when the diaphragm 94 is in its closed position, the flow capacity of the blecder bypass being substantially less than the fiow capacity through the diaphragm opening or port 96 when the valve ball 98 is unseated. As indicated in FIG. 4, the bleeder bypass may include a passage 122 from the valve chamber 116 to a small compartment 124 on one side of the diaphragm 94 and a second passage 125 from the control chamber 115 to a second compartment 126 on the other side of the diaphragm. The two compartments 24 and 26 on opposite sides of the diaphragm 94 are in communication with each other through a small orifice fitting 128 that is mounted in the diaphragm.

Normally the various parts of the valve assembly are in the positions shown in FIG. 2, the cut-off valve 16 being fully open, the ball 98 being seated in the diaphragm port 96 and the annular portion 95 of the diaphragm being disposed to close port 92 to cut off flow from the valve compartment 116 to the riser pipe 35. By virtue of the bleeder bypass the fluid pressure in the control chamber 115 is equal to the fluid pressure in the valve chamber 116. Since the total area of the diaphragm 94 and of the ball 98 that is exposed to the pressure in the control chamber 115 is greater than the area of the the diaphragm that is exposed to the pressure in the valve chamber 116, a fluid pressure differential exists which keeps the diaphragm firmly in its closed position and the spring 1% applies additional closing force to the valve ball 98.

When the depression of the foot pedal 45 swings the toilet bowl closure 42 downward and rearward against the plunger 32, the plunger unseat-s the ball 98 to place the control chamber 115 in communication with a fluid passage 130 which communicates with the riser pipe 35 and is therefore at substantially atmospheric pressure. The fluid pressure in the control chamber 115 immediately drops to reverse the fluid pressure diiferential on the diaphragm 94 with the consequence that the diaphragm is forced away from the port 92 against the valve cage 102 to place the valve chamber 116 in communication with the fluid passage 130 through the port 92. Water then flows freely from the supply pipe through the cut-ofl valve 16 and through the flushing valve 30 into the riser pipe to reach the manifold 38 in the rim of the toilet bowl 1%. The flushing action continues at full force as long as the plunger 32 is completely depressed.

When pressure is removed from the foot pedal 45, the coil spring 66 returns the closure 42 to its normal closed position and the spring 34 returns the plunger 32 to its normal retracted position. The spring 100 then returns the valve ball 98 to its normal seat in the diaphragm port 96. With the control chamber 115 closed, the pressure in the control chamber gradually rises by virtue of the bleeder bypass until the pressure differential on the diaphragm 94 is again reversed to force the diaphragm to its closed position.

The time required for the pressure differential to be reversed and the distance that the diaphragm 94 must be moved from its fully open position to its closed posit-ion determines the delayed action of the flushing Valve, i.e., the period of time that flow continues through the flu-sh ing valve after the plunger 32 is retracted. The time period of the delay action may be varied by manipulating the adjustment screw 105 to vary the distance of the valve cage 102 from the normal closed position of the diaphragm 94. 'The greater the distance between the closed diaphragm and the retracted valve cage, the longer the period that flow is prolonged through the flushing valve after the plunger -32 is retracted.

If the operating screw 28 is manipulated to close the cut-off valve 16 the gradual approach of the valve head 20 of the cutoff valve to the valve seat 18 is accompanied by corresponding gradual retraction of the valive head 25 of the spray valve 22 away from the valve seat 24. Water under pressure is then free to flow from the passage 118 through the passage 132 around the valve stem 11!) to an annular space 134 in the region of the valve head 25 of the spray valve. As shown in FIG. 3,

the annular space 134 communicates through a short passage 135 with a longer passage 136 that leads to the restricted outlet passage 23 that functions as a spray nozzle. Water continues to flow to the spray nozzle until the valve head 20 of the cut-off valve 16 is fully seated. 7

One feature of the vacuum breaker 36 is that it has the appearance of a single upright tube without any lateral branches or pipe connections to detract from its appearance. Another feature is that the upper end of the vacuum breaker is provided with a resilient rubberlike cap 138 which not only serves as an annular vent for the vacuum breaker but also serves as a bumper against which the toilet bowl cover 14 can rest in its open position.

FIG. 5 shows a modification of the invention which consists in the omission of the previously described combined cut-01f valve and spray valve and further consists in the addition of sealing means including a sealing diaphragm to serve as means for positively preventing any contaminated water from the discharge passage 50 entering the system of fluid passages that communicates with the supply pipe 15. The structure in FIG. 5 is largely similar to the previously described structure shown in FIG. 2 as indicated by the use of corresponding numerals to indicate corresponding parts. The inner body section 76a, the intermediate body section 78a and the outer body section 80a are somewhat diflerent in cross sectional configuration than their counterparts in FIG. 2 to provide the structure required by the modification.

Thus the structure provides an angular passage formed by the two body sections 78a and 80a, this angular passage leading from the supply pipe 15 to the previously mentioned valve chamber 116. The ball cage 1112 is shown in the extreme advanced position in FIG. 5 engaging the diaphragm to serve as a cut-orf valve in .place of valve 20, but it will be evident that in normal usage the valve cage will be spaced from the diaphragm as shown in FIG. 2-.

An operating member 32a like the previously described operating member 32 is normally biased to its retracted position shown in FIG. 5 and in the same manner as heretofore described is positioned to be advanced against the valve ball 98 by the opening movement of the closure 42. The operating member or plunger 32a is slideably mounted in a sleeve 172 in an aperture 174 in the back wall 175 of the discharge passage 51 A suitable O-ring 176 embraces the plunger 32a in cooperation with the sleeve 172 to serve as a first sealing means to prevent the flow of contaminated water from the discharge passage 50 through the aperture 174 along the operating member 32a to the region of the fluid passage 130 on the downstream side of the flushing valve 39. It is essential that such a leakage path for contaminated water be blocked since the fluid passage 116 is at times in communication with the water supply pipe 15.

A second sealing means to prevent flow of contaminated water from the discharge passage 5%) to the fluid passage 130 is provided in the form of a diaphragm 178. The diaphragm 178 is centrally apertured to embrace the plunger 32a in a fluid-tight manner and the peripheral margin 180 of the diaphragm is connected to the structure of the discharge passage wall 175 in a fluid-tight manner. In the construction shown the peripheral margin 180 of the diaphragm is clamped against the inner body section 76a in a fluid-tight manner by the intermediate body section 7 8a.

The inner face of the diaphragm 178, i.e., the face towards the wall 175 of the discharge passage 50 is spaced away from the wall 175 and for this purpose the diaphragm is formed with numerous projections 182 of round cross section that abut the wall 175. The spacing of the diaphragm 178 from the wall 175 by the projections 182 forms a chamber 184; The lower end of this chamber has a port 185 which communicates with a passage 186 which in turn communicates through a port 138 to a passage 190 which opens onto the floor on which the toilet bowl assembly is mounted.

It is apparent that if leakage of contaminated water occurs past the O-ring 176 through the aperture 174 into the chamber 184 the diaphragm 178 will keep the leakage from entering the fresh water passage 116. Instead, the contaminated Water will drain to the floor along the path indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5. The leaked fluid will soon be noticed since the leaked fluid soon makes its appearance at the front of the base of the pedestal in the region indicated by the numeral 57a in FIG. 5. A further advantage of this arrangement is that the previously mentioned spring 34 is omitted since the diaphragm 178 serves as means to bias the plunger 32a to its retracted position, the diaphragm also being acted upon by the fluid pressure in the fluid passage 13 on the downstream side of the flushing valve 30.

It is further apparent that this modification of the invention operates in the previously described manner when the closure 42 is opened with consequent advance of the plunger 32a against the valve ball 98.

My description in specific detail of the selected embodiment of the invention will suggest various changes, substitutions and other departures from my disclosure within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a toilet bowl assembly including a toilet bowl having a discharge outlet for flushing action, a discharge passage to receive the discharge from said outlet, and closure means normally closing said discharge outlet to maintain a body of water in the toilet bowl and a normally open cut-off valve, the combination therewith of:

spray means directed into said discharge passage for cleaning action in preparation for taking the toilet bowl out of service; and

a normally closed spray valve to supply water to said spray means,

said spray valve being responsive to said cut-ofi valve to open in response to the closing action of the cut-oil valve.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 3 in which said spray valve is in series With said cut-ofi valve on the downstream side thereof to receive water therefrom for the spray action; and in which said spray valve opens in response to initiation of the closing action of the cut-off valve whereby the spray action occurs during the closing action of the cutoff valve and terminates when the cut-ofi valve is 5 fully closed, 3. In a toilet bowl assembly including a toilet bowl 0 having a discharge outlet for flushing action, a discharge passage to receive the discharge from said outlet, and closure means normally closing said discharge outlet to maintain a body of water in the toilet bowl, the combination therewith of:

spray means directed into said discharge passage for cleaning action in preparation for taking the toilet bowl out of service;

a normally closed spray valve for connecting said spray means with a source of pressurized fluid;

a normally open cut-off valve, said spray valve being in series with said cut-oil valve on the downstream side thereto to receive water therefrom; and

actuating means operatively connected to both of said valves to close said cut-off valve progressively and simultaneously to open said spray valve progressively whereby said spray means operates during the closing action of the cut-ofl valve and terminates when the cut-ofl? valve is fully closed 4. A combination as set forth in claim 3 in which said actuating means is a screw means accessible for manipulation from the exterior of the toilet bowl assembly.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said spray valve has a valve member and a cooperating valve seat;

in which said cut-off valve has a valve member and a cooperating valve seat; and

in which both of said valve members are carried by said screw means.

6. In a toilet bowl assembly including a toilet bowl having a discharge outlet for flushing action, a discharge passage to receive the discharge from said outlet, let, and closure means normally closing said discharge outlet to maintain a body of water in the toilet bowl, the combination therewith of:

spray means directed into said discharge passage for cleaning action in preparation for taking the toilet bow] out of service;

a normally closed spray valve for connecting said spray means with a source of pressurized fluid;

said closure means being a flapper type closure; and

said spray means being directed at the underside of the closure at the closed position thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,172,292 9/1939 Pearson 476 X LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL ROTHBERG, Examiner. 

1. IN A TOILET BOWL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A TOILET BOWL HAVING A DISCHARGE OUTLET FOR FLUSHING ACTION, A DISCHARGE PASSAGE TO RECEIVE THE DISCHARGE FROM SAID OUTLET, AND CLOSURE MEANS NORMALLY CLOSING SAID DISCHARGE OUTLET TO MAINTAIN A BODY OF WATER IN THE TOILET BOWL AND A NORMALLY OPEN CUT-OFF VALVE, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF: SPRAY MEANS DIRECTED INTO SAID DISCHARGE PASSAGE FOR CLEANING ACTION IN PREPARATION FOR TAKING THE TOILET BOWL OUT OF SERVICE; AND A NORMALLY CLOSED SPRAY VALVE TO SUPPLY WATER TO SAID SPRAY MEANS, 